| QUOTE (Cetra3 @ Jun 25 2005, 07:22 PM) |
| i just want something that is more complete if that makes sense to produce actual songs as opposed to cool sounds. |
Firstly, Reason is enough to produce actual songs (Szahala anyone?).
Moving from reason to cubase will give you a lot more flexibility in my opinion. The reasons (:/) i'd move to cubase would be (and these are all in my opinion):
- It has a much more accurate and powerful mixer. (reasons mixer is.. not quite as informative as youd like when mixing, i personally think the leds on the reason mixer are for show only)
- Its not limited to all the built in stuff (in fact some of the built in cubase stuff [effects/synths] are mediocre)
- you can update your synths and effects as they come out, not in a long awaited update, not to mention third party instruments are generally better than the built in reason ones
- it has a lot of power in its audio routing (although, they all do): effect sends, group channels
- you can drop audio files into the sequencer track (!!)
- you can use external midi devices
- you can mixdown parts of your track to a single audio track to save processing power relatively easily (good if your computer is pants)
- you can see all the audio waveforms, automation and midi data on the sequencer tracks
- automation is displayed and manipulated a lot better
- you can organise the sequencer a lot more with colours and folder tracks, naming of parts etc
- david hasselhoff uses it
So if none of those are important to you, stick with reason.. even i'll admit, getting from an idea onto the sequencer is quicker in reason (redrum!) than it is in cubase (until you start using shortcuts, templates and screen presets to their fullest)
If you want to see the difference between the reason built in instruments and effects to some third party ones check out demo's of these (if possible):
Instruments:
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rgcAudio z3ta+ (now creamware z3ta+ i think) - a really nice virtual analog/waveshaping/does-almost-everything-except-granular synth (awesome for leads, pads).. interface is a little scary at first, but its actually rather good once you get used to it.
reFX Vanguard - another tasty synth but with less flexibility (but great for basslines and 303/Acid type bits)
Native Instruments Absynth - does pretty much everything, but interface is a little.. meh...
Novation V-Station - never got into it, but most people speak highly of it
GForce Software's MiniMonsta - really good software emulation of an analogue synth (after reading a huge discussion on kvraudio.com, it was highly regarded)
Luxonix Ravity(s) - worth checking out, for piano sounds, strings
Native Instruments Kontakt 2 - If you are gonna get a VST sampler, get this one.. and you pretty much need it with cubase, cause the built in drum machines are shite.. tho.. you can use reason's sampler in rewire if you bought reason.
Effects:
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Fabfilter's Volcano - the FabFilter One filter is highly regarded as being the nicest VST filter around... seriously.. my mum told me...
Pretty much anything from Voxengo - compression, mastering, eq etc see crunchessor, gliss eq and polysquasher
Spin Audio Roomverb M2 - very nice reverb pluggy.. play with presets... you'll see
Spin Audio SpinDelay - um.. it delays shit
OtiumFX Compadre - Nice compressor with sidechaining (for making batty house :P "call on MEEeeEEeeEEeeEEeeEEeeEE")
The Waves bundle... check things like Ultramaximiser for mastering, and RBass for bass mangling
... fark that took ages to write... hope someone reads it :P